Campanula plant named ‘Summertime Blues’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Campanula  plant with large bells of deep violet colored flowers, multiple inflorescences, no seed set, and long bloom time (from May through September in Canby, Oreg).

Botanical Classification: Campanula spp. (C. punctata×C. trachelium).

Variety Denomination: ‘Summertime Blues’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Campanula plant that is given the cultivar name of ‘Summertine Blues’. Campanula is in the family Campanulaceae. Campanula ‘Summertime Blues’ originated from a planned cross between Campanula punctata ‘Bowl of Cherries’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,194), as the seed parent, and Campanula trachelium ‘Bernice’ (an unpatented plant), as the pollen parent. The offspring from the cross were planted out and this selection was made for its fine characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new and unique Campanula hybrid is distinguished by:

-   -   1. Large bells of deep violet colored flowers;     -   2. Multiple inflorescences;     -   3. No seed set; and     -   4. Long bloom time (May through September in Canby, Oreg.).

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by division and tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques with terminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows a close up of the flowers of a two-year-old Campanula ‘Summertime Blues’.

FIG. 2 shows the new cultivar growing in the ground in the garden in full sun in July in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Campanula punctata based on observations of two year old specimen grown in the trail beds outside in full sun under typical weather in Canby, Oreg. Canby is Zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of 95 degrees F. in August to 32 degrees F. in January. Normal rainfall in Canby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Rosette-forming herbaceous perennial.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5-8.         -   Size.—61 cm tall from the ground to the top of the             inflorescence and 42 cm wide.         -   Habit.—Upright, clumping, not many basal leaves.         -   Vigor.—Excellent. -   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Basal and alternate up the stem.         -   Shape.—Ovate to broadly ovate, except upper stem leaves             which are lanceolate.         -   Venation.—Main central vein with secondary veins palmate.         -   Margins.—Incised and doubly serrate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Blade size.—Basal leaves from the ground are small, growing             to 3 cm long and 2.7 cm wide; stem leaves are variable in             size and shape, lower leaves are larger and petiolate,             blades ovate growing to 6 cm long and 4 cm wide, pubescent             on both sides, incised and doubly serrate, acuminate,             truncate; leaves near the top and on side branches are             smaller and sessile, blades lanceolate growing from 3 cm to             7.5 long and 1 cm to 3 cm wide, coarsely serrate, undulate,             acuminate, cordate to truncate, pubescent on both sides.         -   Surface texture.—Pubescent on both sides.         -   Petiole description.—Basal leaves from the ground have             petioles 5 cm long and 1 mm wide, pubescent, Greyed Purple             187A; lower stem leaves have petioles that grow to 11 cm             long and 2 mm wide.         -   Leaf color.—Topside — closest to Yellow Green 147B with the             main vein and margins tinted with Greyed Purple 187B; bottom             side — same. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Panicle with 20 to 30 flowers.         -   Peduncle.—61 cm tall, pubescent, Yellow Green 146A tinted in             sun with Greyed Purple 187A, internodes 4 cm to 9 cm, with 4             to 7 side branches.         -   Pedicel.—5 to 10 mm long and 1 mm wide, pubescent, Yellow             Green 146A tinted in sun with Greyed Purple 187A.         -   Bloom period.—May through September in Canby, Oreg. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—1.5 cm wide and 4.8 cm long.         -   Shape.—Ovoid, elongate, pleated.         -   Surface texture.—Mostly glabrous, pubescent on main veins.         -   Color.—Between Violet Blue 92C and Violet Blue 90D. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—Actinomorphic.         -   Shape.—Campanulate.         -   Size.—5.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide.         -   Corolla.—5 cm long; with tube 4 cm long and 5 lobes, 5 mm             long and 5 mm wide, triangular, reflexed slightly, surface             inside is pubescent and outside is glabrous except main             veins which are pubescent, color outside is Violet Blue 90D,             inside is Violet Blue 90A.         -   Calyx.—3 cm wide and 2.4 cm deep, campanulate with lobes             flaring, tube 5 mm long and 15 mm wide at lobe junction,             lobes are 15 mm long, 4 mm wide at the base, tips acuminate,             pubescent on both sides, Yellow Green 146A tinted with Brown             200A.         -   Stamen.—5, filaments 3 mm long and 1 mm wide, White 155A,             filaments are 12 mm long and less than 1 mm wide, Yellow             11B, sterile.         -   Pistil.—Ovary is 4 mm deep and 1 cm wide, Yellow White 158B,             style 2.2 cm long and less than 2 mm wide, 3-branched             stigma, each reflexed branch 5 mm long and 1 mm wide, Yellow             Green 154D.         -   Fragrance.—Very slight.         -   Lastingness.—Each flower lasts for about 5 days on the             plant. -   Fruit and seed: None. -   Diseases and pests: No diseases found of this new variety. No known     diseases resistance. Many Campanula sp. are susceptible to snails,     slugs, and aphids.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR CAMPANULA

Compared to its seed parent, Campanula punctata ‘Bowl of Cherries’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,194), Campanula ‘Summertime Blues’ has deep violet rather than deep red purple colored flowers. The new variety is taller and is not rhizomatous.

Compared to its pollen parent, Campanula trachelium ‘Bernice’, an unpatented plant, the new variety has a single rather than a double flower. They have similar flower color. Campanula trachelium ‘Bernice’ is leafier than the new variety.

Compared to Campanula ‘Mystic Bells’, an unpatented plant, the near variety has deeper violet corolla color. 

1. A new and distinct Campanula plant as herein illustrated and described. 